Stream table study center

ABSTRACT

A portable stream table for simulating the effect of waves on a land mass and for measuring and recording the resulting erosion of the land mass.

Unrt States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,827,290 Carlson [4 Au 6 1974 STREAM TABLESTUDY CENTER 3,472,444 I 11/1969 Presnell et a1. 73/148 x 3,633,4191/1972 A it tal 73/148 [75] Inventor: t P Muskeg, 3,673,705 3/1970 wrighi et a1. 35/19 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS [73] Assignee: E. H. Sheldon andCompany,

Muskegon Mich Instrumentation In Tidal Mode1 and Waterway Research byHenley, From Instrument Practice Dec. [22] F1Ied: Mar. 6, 1973 1951,pages 89*96 21 A 1. N 338,505 1 pp 0 Primary Examiner-James J. G111Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon & U.S.

Lungmus [51] Int. Cl. G0lm 10/00 of Search 35/19 R, 10,41,42

A portable stream table for simulatmg the effect of 56] References Citedwaves on a land mass and for measuring and recording UNITED STATESPATENTS the resulting erosion of the land mass.

3,475,834 11/1969 Bugg 35/19 R 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures STREAM TABLESTUDY CENTER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The present invention relates to asystem for simulating the effect of waves on a land mass; and it isparticularly useful in measuring and recording the resulting erosion ofthe land mass. Such a system may be used in a classroom or laboratory.

It has been suggested that the effects of erosion on a land mass may bestudied by placing the land mass in a large container with a flatbottom, together with water, and inducing wave motion in the water bymeans of a hand-operated paddle. The resulting erosion of the land withcontinued wave motion is then observed visually.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over elementaryapparatus of the type described above. Certain types of land, such ashard packed clay, erode over a very long time, and it becomesimpractical to study erosion of this type of land with a hand-actuatedmechanism because of the long periods of time involved. Further, it isknown that waves which are me chanically induced as with a paddle, donot have the same characteristics as wind-induced waves, and they aretherefore likely to produce different effects on a land mass.

The present system includes a generally rectangular tub which ispivotally connected at one end to a cabinet mounted on casters. Thus,the entire system is portable and self-contained. A dam is provided atone end of the tub, together with beams for filling the dam with water.The other end of the tub is provided with a drain system with anadjustable slide for metering the outflow of water. The hinge connectionof the tub is at the drain end so that the dam end of the tub may beraised and water overflowing the dam will pass over the land mass andthence be drained into a first bucket housed within the cabinet.

A second bucket is provided in the cabinet for catching overflow waterfrom the first bucketwhereby sand or earth is separated from the waterin the first bucket, and only water is fed into the second bucket. Arecirculating pump takes water from the second bucket and pumps it backinto the dam.

The cabinet also houses a fan for generating a flow of air which iscoupled by means of a flexible hose to the top of the tub for simulatingwind-induced wave motion on the body of water.

The sides of the tub are made of a transparent material, such as safetyglass, and the bottom as well as the sides of the tub are marked with ametric grid so that a three-dimensional measurement may easily be madeof the effects of erosion on the land mass under study.

Incandescent lamps are provided over the tub, and they perform a dualfunction. That is, they both illuminate the study area, and if left on,they may be used to speed up the drying of the land mass so that theeffects of intermittent surface water flow followed by periods of dryingout may be simulated.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description ofa preferred embodiment accompanied by the attached drawing whereinidentical reference numerals will refer to like parts in their variousviews.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portable study centerconstructed according to the present invention with portions of the tuband cabinet broken away;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the sight line2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring then to the drawing, reference numeral 10generally designates a cabinet which is equipped with lockableforecasters 11 and a pair of front doors 12 which may be opened to gainaccess into the interior. The central upper portion of the cabinet 10 isopen, as at 13 in FIG. 2. Covering the opening 13 and located above thecabinet 10 is a tub generally designated by reference numeral 14. Thetub 14 has a water inlet 15 and a drain end 16. The drain end 16 of thetub 14 is connected by means of hinges, one of which is shown in FIG. 1and designated 17, to the top of the cabinet 10. At the water inlet endof the tub 15, there is provided a mechanism generally designated byreference numeral 18 for raising that end of the tub about the hinges17. The height-adjusting mechanism 18 includes a handle 19 connected toa horizontal rod 20 which, in turn, is connected to vertical rods 21pivotally attached to the bottom of the tub 14 by means of flanges, oneof which is shown in FIG. 1 and designated 22.

The tub 14 includes a flat bottom 23, first and second shorter uprightsides 24 and 25, and first and second elongated side panels 26 and 27.Preferably, the bottom 23 and shorter sides 24 and 25 are integrallyformed, as by molding, into a single piece of opaque plastic. On theupper surface of the bottom 23, a metric grid is provided as at 28 inFIG. 3. The grid 28 may be,

inscribed into the plastic or it may be printed on it. The longer sides26 and 27 are preferably of a transparent material, such as safety glasswith grid lines 29 silkscreened thereon. The combination of grids on thebottom and sides of the tub, together with the transparent sides 26 and27 has been found to greatly facilitate measuring and recording ofmovements of the land mass (generally designated by reference numeral 30in FIG. 3), particularly over longer periods of time.

At the drain end 16 of the tub 14, there are provided first and seconddrains 32 and 33, each of which is equipped with a flexible hoseextending beneath the bottom 28 of the tub 15 (and designatedrespectively 32a and 33a in FIG. 2). The conduits 32a and 33a drain intoa first bucket 34 housed within the cabinet end and provided with anoverflow to 35. A second bucket 36 is positioned within the cabinet 10so as to collect water overflowing from the first or separation bucket34. That is, any earth, silt or sand that may drain from the tub 14 willfall to the bottom of the first bucket 34, so that only clear water willbe collected in the bucket 36.

The draining of water from the tub 14 is metered by means of a plategenerally designated 37 and provided with two apertures 38 and 39 whichare aligned with the drains 32 and 33 in the tub when the metering plate37 is in the position shown in FIG. 3-i.e., abutting the side wall 26 ofthe tub 14. The metering plate may be moved lengthwise to partially orfully cover the drains and thereby minimize water flow from the tub. Thestoppage position of the apertures in the metering plate 37 are shown bythe dashed circles 38a and 39a respectively.

The bottom of the bucket 36 is provided with a drain 40 which feeds intoa tee 41. One end of the tee 41 is connected to a flexible drain conduit42 provided with a hose clamp 43 so that the contents of the bucket 36may be drained and discharged, if desired. The other end of the tee 41is coupled to a recirculating pump 44 by means of a conduit 45. Theoutput of a pump 44 is coupled by means of a flexible conduit 46 to afitting 47 in the bottom 23 of the tub 14. The top of the fitting 47 isprovided with a flexible hose 48 fitted with a hose clamp 49 forrecirculating water into the inlet end of the tub 14.

A plate 50 having a cross section (as seen in FIG. 1) in the shape of anL, is press fitted into a transverse groove 51 formed in the bottom 23of the tub 14. The groove 51 formed in the bottom 23 of the tub 14. Thegroove 51 is located inwardly of the end wall 24 so as to form a trough53 at the source end 15. Inlet water is stored in the trough 53, and theplate 50 serves as a dam for simulating ground overflow of water overthe land mass 30. As indicated by the dashed showing of 50a, the plate50 may be inverted so that its shorter side forms the dam wall, therebyreducing the height of the dam relative to the bottom 23 of the tub 14.In either case, the groove 51 holds the dam.

Ordinarily, the land mass 30 is in the position shown-that is,immediately downstream of the dam 50; and the body of water (if wavemotion is desired) is located toward the drain end 16. Adjacent thedrain end 16 there is located a hand-actuated paddle generallydesignated 54 and, as can be seen best in FIG. 2, extending transverselyof the tub 14 almost its entire width. The paddle 54 is moved by meansof a handle 55 which is connected to a shaft 56 mounted to the sidewalls 26, 27 of the tub 14 by means of clips 58. As has been mentioned,the simulation of waves by means of a mechanically operated paddle hasbeen found to have a different effect than that which occurs naturally.In order to simulate more closely the natural effect of waves, an airblower generally designated 60 in FIG. 1 is housed within the cabinet10, and it feeds a flexible hose 61 which may be placed over the top ofthe tub l4 adjacent the drain end 16. The discharge end of the hose 61is provided with a nozzle 62, and the discharging air, when directedonto the body of water in the tub simulates a steady wind over thesurface of the water.

Articulated cover panels are provided at each end of the tub 14 forcovering the same when the study center is not in use. The articulatedpanel for the drain end 16 is generally designated by reference numeral65, and the one for the inlet end is generally designated 66 in FIG. 1.Since each of these cover panels is similar, only the panel 65 need bediscussed in further detail. The articulated panel 65 includes first andsecond panel sections 67 and 68 which are joined together by means of apair of double-pivot hinges 69. The panel 67 is connected to the endwall 25 of the tub 14 by means of a second pair of hinges 70. A lip 71is connected to the end upright wall of the cabinet 10 so that thearticulated panel 65 may be placed in the position shown in solid inFIG. 1 wherein the outer panel section 68 serves as a brace, and theinner panel section 67 forms a horizontal counter surface. In coveringposition, the panels are extended as shown in dashed line at 65a in FIG.1 for covering the open top of the tub 14. A third position for thearticulated panel 65 is shown at 65b in FIG. 1 wherein the panelsections hang straight down. The articulated panel 66 may similarly havethree use positions, although only two are shown in the illustratedembodiment.

Two overhead lamps designated 73 are supported by means of a conduit 74over the tub 14. The lamps 73 may be heat lamps so as to serve a dualfunction-namely, to illuminate the land mass under study and, secondly,in order to dry out the land mass more rapidly.

The stream table study center of the present invention has substantialversatility in use, accommodating the study of different types of soilor land as well as dif ferent types of wave motion and over-land waterflow. Further, different environmental conditions can be simulated bymeans of the heat lamps 73, and a continuous recirculation of water ispossible without the need to attach the apparatus to an exterior watersource. That is, the unit is self-contained.

Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiment, persons skilled in the artwill be able to modify certain of the structure that has beenillustrated and to substitute equivalent elements for those which havebeen described while continuing to practice the invention; and it is,therefore, intended that all such modifications and substitutions becovered as they are embraced within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising: a tub for holding a land mass and water andincluding a bottom and first and second pairs of opposing side walls, atleast one pair of said side walls being transparent, a measuring gridincluding a first plurality of equally spaced lines on at least one ofsaid transparent side walls extending parallel to said bottom and asecond plurality of equally spaced lines on said one side generallyperpendicular to said first lines and intersecting therewith, saidbottom being marked with a similar grid for measuring land movement,said tub defining a drain end and a water inlet end; drain means in thedrain end of said tub for metering the outflow of water therefrom; waterseparation means receiving the drain water from said tub for separatingthe water from particulate matter; pump means communicating with saidwater separation means for recirculating the separated water into saidtub at the water inlet end thereof.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a dam including a plateformed in the shape of an L for fitting into a groove transverselyformed in said bottom of said tub adjacent the water inlet end thereofand spaced from an opposing side wall to form a trough for receiving andstoring the inlet water from said recirculating pump, said tub adaptedto hold said land mass immedi ately downstream of said trough wherebywater passing over said dam will pass over the surface of said land massto said drain end of said tub; and means for selectively tilting thewater inlet end of said tub upwardly relative to the drain end thereof.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising an opentop cabinet forhousing said water separation means in said pump; and means for hingedlymounting the drain end of said tub to said cabinet.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a source of air including afan and a flexible hose provided with a nozzle at its discharge end forsimulating wind over the body of water held to the drain end of saidtub.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an open-top cabinet;means for hingedly connecting the drain end of said tub to said cabinetto cover the open top thereof; means for selectively raising the waterinlet end of said tub relative to the drain end thereof by reaction withsaid cabinet; and caster means mounted beneath said cabinet whereby saidentire unit is mobile.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising heat lamp means mountedabove said tub for lighting the study area of said tub and forselectively heating said adjacent the drain end of said tub.

1. Apparatus comprising: a tub for holding a land mass and water andincluding a bottom and first and second pairs of opposing side walls, atleast one pair of said side walls being transparent, a measuring gridincluding a first plurality of equally spaced lines on at least one ofsaid transparent side walls extending parallel to said bottom and asecond plurality of equally spaced lines on said one side generallyperpendicular to said first lines and intersecting therewith, saidbottom being marked with a similar grid for measuring land movement,said tub defining a drain end and a water inlet end; drain means in thedrain end of said tub for metering the outflow of water therefrom; waterseparation means receiving the drain water from said tub for separatingthe water from particulate matter; pump means communicating with saidwater separation means for recirculating the separated water into saidtub at the water inlet end thereof.
 2. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising a dam including a plate formed in the shape of an L forfitting into a groove transversely formed in said bottom of said tubadjacent the water inlet end thereof and spaced from an opposing sidewall to form a trough for receiving and storing the inlet water fromsaid recirculating pump, said tub adapted to hold said land massimmediately downstream of said trough whereby water passing over saiddam will pass over the surface of said land mass to said drain end ofsaid tub; and means for selectively tilting the water inlet end of saidtub upwardly relative to the drain end thereof.
 3. The system of claim 2further comprising an open-top cabinet for housing said water separationmeans in said pump; and means for hingedly mounting the drain end ofsaid tub to said cabinet.
 4. The system of claim 2 further comprising asource of air including a fan and a flexible hose provided with a nozzleat its discharge end for simulating wind over the body of water held tothe drain end of said tub.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 furthercomprising an open-top cabinet; means for hingedly connecting the drainend of said tub to said cabinet to cover the open top thereof; means forselectively raising the water inlet end of said tub relative to thedrain end thereof by reaction with said cabinet; and caster meansmounted beneath said cabinet whereby said entire unit is mobile.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1 further comprising heat lamp means mounted above saidtub for lighting the study area of said tub and for selectively heatingsaid land mass over a period of time.
 7. The system of claim 5 furthercomprising a pair of articulated panels connected respectively to thewater inlet end and the drain end of said tub for covering said tub whenit is not in use, said articulated panels being selectively movable to ause position uncovering said tub, at least one of said panels beingselectively positionable in the third position to form a horizontalshelf adjacent the drain end of said tub.